Revisiting 3D Printing Investment

Revisiting 3D Printing Investment

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Revisiting 3D Printing Investment

Back in 2013, 3D printing technology created a ton of buzz for the potential impact it could have on our daily lives and future capabilities in a number of industries. As a result, 3D printing stocks shot up, giving a taste of the glory days of emerging technology in the 90’s and 2000’s. This trend didn’t continue into 2014, though, stocks dove as the barrier for entry into the 3D printing business was too high for most people. Fast-forward to today, and you have most leaders of 3D printing business down over two-thirds from then.

A New Hope?

Now that all the sci-fi dreaming and initial uncertainty about what 3D printing could accomplish has been replaced with real-world progress and increased accessibility, 3D printing companies are able to paint a clearer picture of what types of solutions they can achieve in the near future.
We are now seeing the world’s largest industries of medical, energy, agriculture, and defense use this technology on much grander scale. 3D printed tissues and organs are now a reality, custom-fitted medical devices, custom-made engine parts, custom-made replacement parts for large equipment; these are all major resource-saving solutions to businesses involved in 3D printing ventures.

According to analytical firm Canalys, the 3D printing market will grow to $16.2 billion by 2018. IDC expects worldwide 3D printer unit sales and installed base to grow at a combined compound annual growth rate of 59% through 2017. These are certainly numbers that would make anyone interested in 3D printing stocks. That’s why 2015 is being pegged as the year of 3D printing investment.

The next step in 3D printing investment prospects is getting a piece of the pie by means of acquiring smaller 3D printing companies that can bring big returns for little investment capital.

Will 3D Printing Ventures Reinvigorate Interest?

If you haven’t been paying attention to the 3D printing industry lately, some multi-national corporations have been throwing huge sums of cash into the pot. Folks like General Electric and Hewlett Packard are really starting to throw their weight around. GE, for example is already expanding their production to include a $32 million dollar 3D printing facility in Pittsburgh, PA. This isn’t just a test plant, either, it will set the precedent for all major competitors in their related industries, like Philips, Sony, Black and Decker, and so-on.

Hewlett Packard is reviving their own 3D printing investments by introducing their own 3D printing technology called Multi-Jet Fusion. As you might gather from the name, Hewlett Packard is speeding things up by reducing the price point of 3D printers and increasing the print speed by a factor of 10 times the competitors on the market. This prospect will be huge for grabbing more attention from the average consumer, as we all know, it is much more visually impressive to witness something being printed before your own eyes.

For those who are still interested in joining in on an industry that will undoubtedly become integral to our everyday society, prospective 3D printing angel investors should be careful not to wait too long, or the opportunity might slip away as these 3D printing companies grow and merge over the next year.